“You didn’t have to tell him to work,” Phillips said. “He was here all the time. All that hard work is paying off for him.”

And Phillips isn’t the only once who noticed. Romo was named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week after completing 15 of 24 (62.5 percent) for a career-best 345 yards, four touchdowns and one interception in the 45-35 season-opening victory over the Giants. Romo also ran for a 9-yard TD as the Cowboys matched last season’s season high for points, which were also the most in a Dallas opener since 1971.